October 7, 2008 - Today at Namco Bandai's pre-TGS showcase, We Ski and Snowboard was unveiled for the first time to the press. The game uses the balance board, nunchuck and Wiimote in conjunction to keep players on their toes and better simulate tearing down a mountain. Not only has boarding been added to the mix but a slew of gameplay refinements seek to make this sequel standout against the competition.

We watched as producer Masaya Kobayashi demonstrated his expertise on two new mountains: Mt. Angerio and Jamboree Snow Resort. Unlike the first game, both of these locations are based on geographic regions outside of Japan. Jamboree Resort is loosely based on a Lake Tahoe ski area meaning that the mountain contains plenty of steep verticals and a lot fewer flat traverses than the first game. Although if you do hit a flat, players can still use their arms to pole ahead or push off with one foot.

Mt. Angerio is more of a back-country experience with large open bowls and a lot of untouched powder. Players even ride a chopper up to the summit instead of the gondola used at the other resort. The huge mountain presents a real sense of height and distance and during the demo there was even an avalanche that Kobayashi was able to outrun.



In addition to the new, more extreme skiing conditions there is a reworked trick system that uses similar motions to perform aerial maneuvers on a board or skiis. Anyone can still get the hang of flips, 360s and spread eagles, as most of these moves simply require a press of the D-pad and a shake of the wiimote in a specific direction. Players can also quickly bend and straighten their legs to perform a jump anywhere on the mountain instead of only off of ramps. Boarders can also lean forward and backward to execute a nose press or a tail press.

Whether you prefer the board or the planks, We Ski and Snowboard is designed to have broad appeal. Players can switch between the two methods of shredding at any time on the mountain and the challenges are not specific to the equipment except for moguls which can only be handled by skiers. Speaking of activities, the two mountains are filled with NPCs who are either enjoying the slopes or can be engaged in conversation to give players a variety of challenges. There are ski and board schools, races, rescue missions, and 14 mini games to keep you busy.

The two mountains we witnessed were filled with jumps and a large number of rails, fences, and boxes to grind. Locking on to a rail and chaining together grinds looked simple enough to execute. The mountains are also far more open than in the first game and it's possible to go off-trail in many areas. Up to three NPCs can come along for the ride and the instant replay camera switches between each skier's perspective. During these replays, players can pause the game and pull up to one hundred photos to share and display their skills. If players choose to hit the slopes with real friends there is four-player split-screen available that utilizes the Wii-mote and nunchuk for the three players not on a balance board.

We Ski and Snowboard is scheduled to hit shelves in the states in March of 2009. Keep your eyes on the video page for a demonstration of this game in action.